Traditional Italian Panettone Food

PANETTONE

Steps:

• Make the first dough: In the bowl of an electric mixer, stir together sugar and 1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon warm water. Fit mixer with the dough hook attachment and add egg yolks to bowl; mix to combine. Add yeast starter in tablespoon-size pieces, mixing well after each addition; continue mixing 2 to 3 minutes more. Add both flours and mix until well combined, 1 to 2 minutes. Add butter, 2 tablespoons at a time, mixing well after each addition.
• Butter a large bowl and transfer dough to prepared bowl. Brush top of dough with olive oil and let stand in a warm place until tripled in size, about 15 hours.
• Make second dough: Transfer dough to the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the dough hook attachment. With the mixer on medium speed, slowly add both flours. Mix until well combined, about 10 minutes.
• Add salt and mix for 1 to 2 minutes. Add 1 egg yolk and 1 tablespoon sugar; mix until well combined. Repeat process two times with remaining egg yolks and sugar. Scrape vanilla bean seeds into a small bowl; add butter and mix to combine. Increase mixer speed and add butter mixture gradually, mixing well after each addition. Continue mixing until dough is smooth and glossy, 10 to 15 minutes.
• Stir in candied orange peel and raisins. With the mixer running, slowly drizzle in 2 1/2 teaspoons water; mix until water is fully incorporated. Let dough rest in bowl for 10 minutes.
• Turn dough out onto work surface and divide into 4 equal pieces. Form each piece into a round and let stand 30 minutes. Transfer each piece of dough to a 5 1/4-by-3 3/4-inch panettone paper mold. Loosely cover each piece of dough with plastic wrap and let stand in a warm place until dough reaches the top of the mold, 7 to 8 hours.
• To make the crust: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place almonds, hazelnuts, 1/3 cup pearl sugar, and maizena in the bowl of a food processor; process until powdery. With the mixer running, slowly drizzle in eggs whites. Transfer mixture to a disposable pastry bag; snip 1/4-inch opening from the bottom. Pipe mixture over the top of each panettone leaving about a 1 1/2-inch perimeter; sprinkle with remaining 3 tablespoons pearl sugar. Garnish each with 6 to 8 roasted almonds and dust with confectioners' sugar. Place panettone on a baking sheet and transfer to oven; bake until dark brown, 40 to 45 minutes.
• Remove panettone from baking sheet. Insert two or three 8-to-12-inch knitting needles through the bottom half of each panettone and suspend each upside down between two boxes for 6 hours before serving.

PANETTONE I

Steps:

• In a medium bowl, combine yeast, water and sugar. Cover and let stand 10 minutes, or until foamy. Add eggs, yogurt, vanilla, lemon zest, and salt. Mix well. Stir in flour 1/2 cup at a time until dough forms into a manageable ball. Turn out onto a lightly floured surface and knead for 5 to 10 minutes, adding flour as necessary, until dough is soft and pliable, but not sticky. (May need up to 5 cups flour.) Place dough in a large, lightly pan-sprayed bowl, cover, and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) and spray a round 8-inch cake pan with non-stick spray. In a small bowl, toss dried fruit with confectioners' sugar. Punch down dough in bowl, transfer to floured surface, and knead in the fruit.
• Form dough into a ball, place in prepared cake pan, cover loosely with dish towel, and let rise 30 minutes. (Loaf will rise above the pan sides.) Brush with melted butter, if desired. Bake for 45 minutes, or until loaf is golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Makes 10 wedges.